Hospital Clowns and Programs

Chapter 7
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Today, you can learn hospital clowning from many
excellent teachers and practitioners. Some programs offer
“mentoring” where students “shadow” experienced clowns on
their hospital rounds. Major conferences teach best practices
in hospital clowning. Many teachers travel nationwide.
This chapter introduces you to some hospital clowns
we know who are willing to share their time and expertise with
you. This is not an all-inclusive list but represents clowns from
throughout the United States and Canada who we believe are
setting the standards in hospital clowning. We invite you to
contact them.
To learn about more hospital clown programs, see The
Hospital Clown Newsletter by “Shobi Dobi” and The Hospital
Clown: A Closer Look, by Shobi and Patty Wooten. (see p. 75)
The Clowns Pictured on the Back Cover (from left in each row)
Richard “Snowflake” Snowberg p. 67
Aviva “DR HuggaBubbe” Gorstein p. 60
DR Bumper “T” p. 60
Bob “DR Bucket” Bleiler p. 60
Desi “Dizzy” Payne p. 65
Carole “Pookie” Johnson p. 64
Cathie “DR Periwinkle” Degen p. 60
Denise “DR Dazzles” Black p. 60
Curt “Doctor ICU” Patty p. 68
Diana “Nurse Sniggles” Patty p. 68
Sue “Dr.KooKooHeimer”
Kleinwachter p. 64
Debbie “Cheerios” Nupp p. 66
Shobhana “Shobi Dobi” Schwebke p. 67
Mary “SnickerDoodle” O’Brien p. 63
Joan “Bunky” Barrington p. 69
Jane “Dr. Tickles” Abendschein p. 68
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Leaders of The Bumper ‘T’ Caring Clowns are, from left Aviva "DR HuggaBubbe"
Gorstein, Reba "DR Silly Reba" Strong, "DR Bumper 'T' " (seated); Bob "DR Bucket"
Bleiler and Esther "DR CurlyBubbe" Gushner (Alex Linton photo antonimages@aol.com)
The Bumper “T” Caring Clowns (NJ & PA)
The Bumper “T” Caring Clowns, a 501c3 nonprofit organization
headquartered in Barrington, New Jersey, near Philadelphia, trained 50
hospital clowns last year for 10 hospitals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
They currently are working with the Association for Applied and
Therapeutic Humor and others to raise the bar on acceptable standards for
hospital clowns and to develop a national certification procedure for
hospital caring clowns.
Shadowing is important
"Shadowing is a very important
part of our training program," says
"DR Bumper 'T'."
Bumper “T” Clown
Cathie “DR
Periwinkle” Degen
clowns at Bryn
Mawr (PA)
Hospital
“It takes a special approach to
work in a hospital and to truly
understand how to zero in on a
patient's spirit and not be overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and
smells of the hospital environment.
"We make the most of the
moment one smile at a time. This is
something that cannot be learned
through a lecture or by reading a
book but by experiencing it."
Bumper “T”
Clown Denise
“DR Dazzles”
Black clowns
at Paoli (PA)
Memorial
Hospital
The Bumper "T" Caring Clowns PO Box 37, Barrington, NJ 08007
1-800-280-9544 Email: Caringclowns @tbtcc.org
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Clowns for Children’s Hospital
of Wisconsin
Korey "Tunkal" Thompson
Artistic Director of Clowns
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
% 3324 N. Shepard Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 332-6590 ThompKM@aol.com
Korey “Tunkal”
Thompson
Clown Connection (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Resource People at St. Luke’s Hospital
Chris Montross & Kay Mineck
Pastoral Care Department St. Luke’s Hospital
1026 A. Avenue N.E. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
(319) 369-8082 Chris’s email: americlown@mcleodusa.net
Clowns Doing Rounds (State College, PA)
Specially trained hospital
clowns from The Happy Valley
Alley of the World Clown
Association regularly visit
Centre Community Hospital in
State College, PA in a program
the Alley organized called
“Clowns Doing Rounds.”
Program Director is Betty
“Dr. I See You” Hodgson, the
Alley’s “Vice President of
Medicinal Giggles.”
The hospital clowns work
through the office of the
Hospital Volunteer Coordinator.
Specialized hospital clown
training is required including
shadowing. (Three of the
hospital clowns have trained at
Clown Camp ® University of
Wisconsin, La Crosse.)
Peggy “Sunflower” Cole (right) uses her
smiley stethoscope to check Betty “Dr. I
See You” Hodgson
Betty “Dr. I See You” Hodgson
449 Sinking Creek Rd.
Spring Mills, PA 16875
(814) 422-8780
hxz@psu.edu
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Clowns on Rounds, Inc. (Albany, NY)
Clowns on Rounds, Inc. provides
professional entertainers dressed as clown
doctors and nurses to hospitals and nursing
homes in New York State’s Capital District.
Funding for this not for profit
corporation comes from charitable foundations, corporations and private donations.
The purpose of Clowns on Rounds is:
© Clowns on Rounds, Inc.
Clowns on Rounds, Inc.
PO Box 6364
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 861-0128
Email:
eperson@capital.net
Web Site: http://
www.clownsonrounds.co
“to encourage in hospitalized patients,
a positive attitude toward their illness and
through humor, to help alleviate the fears,
anxieties and stress experienced by patients,
their families, friends and caregivers.”
Executive Director is Elaine Person.Program Director is Loretta DeAngelus.
Loretta DeAngelus aka “Dr. Gigglebritches”
Loretta DeAngelus
"Dr. Gigglebritches"
1063 Valerie Drive
Niskayuna, NY
12309
(518) 272-9197
Email:
DrGbrtchs1@aol.com
Loretta DeAngelus has been a
professional and volunteer clown for over 20
years. Loretta’s nursing background and her
awareness that laughter is the best medicine gave
rise to "Dr. Gigglebritches" 10 years ago.
She currently works two days a week
as Dr. Gigglebritches at Ellis Hospital and
Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady,
New York.
Recently, she began a special pilot
program for the children in the Albany Medical
Center Pediatric Oncology Clinic.
She has been program director for
Clowns on Rounds, Inc. since 1998. In 2000,
she was named Clown of the Year by Clowns of
America International.
In March 2003, she received the “State
of New York Women Pioneering the Future
Award.”
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Comedy Connection (Clearwater, Florida)
The Comedy Connection started providing Caring Clowns &
Comedy Carts for patients, families and staff in 1988.
Morton Plant Mease Healthcare are JCAHO accredited hospitals
(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). They
have over 100 hospital volunteers and the clowns are required to take a 10
week training program prior to making rounds.
The Comedy Connection
The Comedy Carts are in operation
from noon to 4 p.m. on weekdays and visitors Morton Plant Hospital
300 Pinellas St.
are welcome to join on rounds!
Clearwater, FL 33757
The Comedy Connection is always
(727) 462-7841
open for visitors or tours with volunteers.
The Fun E Bone Repair Unit (Boise, Idaho)
“The Fun E Bone Repair Unit trains,
supports, and empowers clowns to serve in
various health care related settings,” says
Coordinator Mary “SnickerDoodle” O’Brien.
As of 2003, 136 people had gone
through the unit’s annual training program.
“Whether clowning for hospital or
hospice patients, seniors, children with
special needs, families or staff, Fun E Bone
clowns adhere to established ‘best practice’
guidelines to provide the most ethical and
compassionate clowning possible.”
Mary “SnickerDoodle”
Successful weekly programs are in
O’Brien, Coordinator,
place at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical
Fun E Bone Repair Unit Center in Boise; St. Luke's Regional Medical
3873 South Gideon Place Center in Boise and Meridian, and Mountain
States Tumor Institute in Boise.
Meridian Idaho 83642
Giveaways and stickers are provided
(208) 884-0682
Email: snicker_d00dle@ by grants written to auxiliary organizations.
mindspring.com
A new weekend program, “Fun E.U.” will
cover highpoints of their 30-hour training.
Note: the 0’s are zeroes
“I encourage new clowns to find a mentor—someone who has
clowned successfully for a number of years,” says Mary. “My first two
mentors were online, and I wouldn’t have had the courage to follow my
dream if Shobi Dobi and Beatrice Buttons hadn’t been there with support,
ideas and encouragement.”
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Carole Johnson aka "Pookie"
Carole Johnson
1602 Locust Way
Lynnwood WA
98036-9017
(425) 481-7143 Email:
clownjuglr@aol.com
Carole “Pookie” Johnson is a
nationally known Caring Clown and Instructor.
She clowns at nursing homes and at
Stevens Hospital (Lynnwood, WA), and makes
weekly rounds of the outpatient clinics of
Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional
Medical Center.
She has been appearing as “Pookie”
since 1990. She also specializes in clowning for
preschool audiences and for the elderly.
She is a sought after teacher at
national conferences who teaches Introduction
to Caring Clowning, Props and Routines for
Caring Clowns, and Developing the Caring
Clown. She also offers one-day Caring Clown
Intensives.
Carole Kay aka “Blossom”
This active Canadian clown has
performed extensively. Contact: Carole Kay
Box 363 Bradford, Ontario
Canada L3Z 2A9 (905) 775-0088
Email: blossomb-b-@on.aibn.com
Website: http://www.clownb-b.to/
Susie Kleinwachter
aka “Dr. KooKooHeimer”
Also known as “Pancakes,” this
award winning clown, storyteller, and public
speaker has taught throughout the US, UK and
Canada and recently led a “Health and Humor”
workshop in Monterrey, Mexico entitled
“Projecto Risa.” She is current Membership
Director of AATH (Association for Applied
and Therapeutic Humor). She sells many items
for hospital/nursing home clowning. See p. 80.
Susie “Pancakes” Kleinwachter PO Box 700 Warrenville, IL 60555
(630) 393-7714 Email: FunE98@aol.com Website: KleinTime.com
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Kettering Medical Center Network (Ohio)
“Anything But Serious” Hospital Clown Troupe
Valerie “Pennies” Haley and
James “Spots” Haley
Valerie Haley
2110 Leiter Rd.
Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 384-4884
Email: Valerie.Haley@
kmcnetwork.org
This volunteer clown troupe was the
brainchild of Valerie Parker-Haley, an
employee of the Kettering Medical Center.
The group originated in the winter
of 1999 and currently has more than 45 active
clowns. Their mission is to bring
encouragement, smiles, and a little bit of
cheer to those who need it most.
The clowns all are required to go
through the hospital’s volunteer department
and to attend monthly meetings and ongoing
training.
This award-winning troupe is
supported by the Kettering Medical Center
Network but also accepts donations to help
offset supply costs.
The clowns visit nursing homes,
hospice, local charities, as well as area
hospitals.
Ottumwa Regional
Health Center (Iowa)
Desi Payne aka “Dizzy”
Desirae Payne
2616 Clearview St.
Ottumwa IA 52501
Email: Balloonfactory
@rew2000.com
Desi Payne, a professional clown
since 1995, has been involved with drama and
clowning for more than 20 years. She also has
worked as a children’s pastor.
As “Dizzy the Clown,” she brings
“Merry Heart Medicine” every week to the
Ottumwa Regional Health Center. (ORCH)
She is sponsored by the Ottumwa Regional
Health Foundation.
Her humor therapy includes singing,
telling stories, blowing bubbles, juggling, and
using puppets. Her clown mentor, Chuck
Rinkel, pioneered clown/humor therapy at
ORCH in 1991 as “Dr. Bugg.”
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Therapeutic Humor Program
Rochester General Hospital
(New York)
Debbie Nupp
Coordinator
Therapeutic Humor
Program
Rochester General
Hospital
1425 Portland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14621
(585) 922-3596
Email: deb.nupp@
viahealth.org
Debbie Nupp, LPN, has been a nurse for
25 years, most recently working in the operating
room and pediatric unit.
After attending an AATH conference
(Association for Applied and Therapeutic
Humor), she was inspired to create a humor
program in her own hospital, Rochester General
Hospital in Rochester, NY.
Launched in 1999 with funding from the
Rochester General Hospital Foundation, today the
award winning therapeutic humor program has
four components:
Clown Rounds by the Rx Laughter Caring
Clown Unit. Since 1999, 31 volunteer clowns
have been specially trained for clown rounds.
• A Humor TV channel that shows classic
comedies on the hospital closed circuit
television 24 hours a day.
• A Humor Library
• Humor Education. “Clownology” courses for
new clowns are offered through the year as
are classes for staff on the value of humor.
Coming Soon:
Last year, the Rx Laughter Caring Clown
Debbie plans to publish
how to make towels in a Unit won the New York State Volunteer Award.
patient’s room into dogs, At the hospital, Debbie works as both a nurse and
swans, and more that you as coordinator of the therapeutic humor program.
leave with the patient.
She clowns as “Cheerios” the clown.
•
Bud Salloum
aka “Buddy the Clown”
Co-Founder
Edmonton, Canada Caring Clowns
12407-135 Street Edmonton
Alberta, Canada T5L IX8
(780) 455-6049
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Shobhana Schwebke
aka “Shobi Dobi”
Shobhana Schebke, M.A., aka “Shobi
Dobi,” is a world renowned caring clown, author,
teacher, and artist. She is the editor and publisher
of The Hospital Clown Newsletter, an international
newsletter published since 1995. She is the coauthor, with Patty Wooten, of The Hospital Clown:
A Closer Look. (see page 75).
Shobi has worked as a hospital clown at
Shobhana Schwebke
Kaiser
Permenante
in Oakland, California and in
aka Shobi Dobi
hospitals, clinics and orphanages in Guatemala,
P.O. Box 8957
India, China and Russia.
Emeryville, CA
She leads hospital clown workshops
94662
internationally and also gives laughter workshops.
(510) 420-1511
Shobidobi@aol.com
The Smile Team of Hospice
of the Florida Suncoast
Joye "TING" Swisher,
300 East Bay Drive Largo, FL 33774
Joyeswisher@thehospice.org,
(727) 586-4432
Dr. Richard Snowberg
aka “Snowflake Junior”
Dr. Richard
Snowberg
snowberg.rich@
uwlax.edu
(608) 785-8053
http://
perth.uwlax.edu/
Dr. Richard Snowberg is an internationally
renowned clown and educator who was inducted into
the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1999.
For the past 23 years, he has directed Clown
Camp® which he founded at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse. An emeriti faculty member at the
University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, he has written
five books on clowning including the classic Caring
Clowns: How Humor, Smiles and Laughter Overcome Pain, Suffering and Loneliness (see p. 75).
He has twice served as President of the
World Clown Association, most recently in 2002. He
teaches, clowns and travels throughout the world.
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Clown Docs of St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Jane Abendschein started the Clown Docs program at St. Louis
Children's Hospital in 1999. She is the director for the program that
supplies clowns in the clinics and at bedsides. Her Clown Doc name is Dr.
Tickles.
Other regular members of the Clown Docs are Dana Abendschein
aka “Professor Dude,” Curt Patty aka “Doctor ICU” and Diana Patty aka
“Nurse Squiggles.”
Dana Abendschein PhD, is a professor at Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he does vascular research and
teaches several classes — including the first credit course on "The
Medicine of Laughter" offered at any medical school in the country.
.
St. Louis Clown Docs are (from left) Jane “Dr. Tickles” Abendschein, Diana
“Nurse Squiggles” Patty, Debbi “Bubbles the Scrub Nurse” Schwarz (seated)
Curt “Doctor ICU” Patty and Dana “Professor Dude” Abendschein.
Dana and Jane teach all aspects of clowning including makeup, character
development, and the use of clowning in hospitals and prisons.
To contact them or to learn about the Clown Docs program at St. Louis
Children's Hospital, contact Jane Abendschein, 1401 Norman Place,
Warson Woods, MO 63122, (314) 822-5315, libertyandbelle@aol.com
Curt and Diana Patty also teach all aspects of clowning. Contact them at
P.O. Box 19722 St. Louis MO 63144, 314-962-3984
Email: clowngadgetstore@juno.com
Website: www.clowngadgetstore.com
Hospital Clowns and Programs
Clockwise from top left:
Lucia “Nuula” Cino; Camilla
“Posy” Gryski, Kate “Turtle”
Keenan, Kathleen “Le
Roux” Doko, Joan “Bunky”
Barrington
Contact: Joan Barrington
Coordinator, Therapeutic
Clown Program, The Hospital
for Sick Children
Department of Child Life
555 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8
(416) 813-6629
joan.barrington@sickkids.ca
The Therapeutic Clown Program
of The Hospital for Sick Children
“In the late 80’s I was blessed with a dream and over the years,
with the help of many dear friends, this dream has come to fruition,” recalls
Joan “Bunky” Barrington. “In 1993 Karen Ridd, aka Robo (the founder of
the first Canadian Therapeutic Clown Program) together with myself
established the first Therapeutic Clown Program in Ontario at The Hospital
for Sick Children. Since its inception, the program has grown to five
therapeutic clowns gently working their magic on five inpatient floors, two
full days a week.
“Our therapeutic clowns are seasoned professionals with extensive
backgrounds in areas such as theatre, clown, voice and movement, child
development, holistic education and the expressive arts. The therapeutic
clown truly comes from the ‘inside out’ and in each character we honour
their unique spirit and magical self.
“I view love, warmth and a full expression of joy and wonderment
as major components to the healing process and of being an effective and
compassionate therapeutic clown.
“In therapeutic clowning there exists the three ‘Cs’; communication which builds the trust, connection which opens the doors to healing
and compassion that feeds the spirit. Through the relationship and intimacy,
we can joyfully pass the control over to them and they will lead us. To
move forward in life, hope is essential. The human spirit is powerful and
these children have the capacity to live life to the fullest right up to the end.
We are partners in the play, as we are partners in this life.”
Hospital Clowns and Programs
University Initiatives
Recent developments at two major universities are reinforcing the
potential and value of therapeutic clowning in healing.
In one development, the first credit course in clowning is now
being offered at a leading medical school—The Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis.
In another development, an innovative initiative is underway at a
major land-grant university, Penn State University, to explore
applications of all the arts to health and healing issues.
Arts and Health Outreach Initiative (AHOI)
The Pennsylvania State University
This innovative, interdisciplinary initiative at The Pennsylvania
State University, a leading land-grant university, is in the second year of a
three year pilot project.
AHOI links the arts with a wide array of academic disciplines and
external resources connected to personal and public health concerns. This
allows AHOI to create coalitions that explore applications of the arts to
personal health and healing, as well as to critical public health issues.
The initiative is supported by four principal Penn State partners—
the Colleges of Arts and Architecture, Health and Human
Development, and Medicine, and Penn State Outreach and
Cooperative Extension.
AHOI embraces a broad definition of health,
including not only personal health and healing, but also
holistic community life and well-being.
Ermyn F. King, Coordinator
For more about the programs,
conferences, exhibitions and
other projects presented by
AHOI, contact:
Arts and Health Outreach
Initiative (AHOI)
Ermyn F. King, Coordinator
The Pennsylvania State
University
3-D Keller Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 865-8230
Email: efk103@psu.edu
University Initiatives
“To our knowledge, no other
university has brought together as
many diverse partners for the
purpose of demonstrating and
documenting the interrelationships
between the arts and health.
“What universities have to offer
is integration of teaching, research
and service (and the outreach
component of these core missions) in
the arts and health.”
Ermyn King, Coordinator,
Arts and Health Outreach Initiative
The Pennsylvania State University
Washington University School of Medicine
offers course on "The Medicine of Laughter"
The Washington University School of Medicine is the first U.S.
medical school to offer a credit course in clowning.
The credit selective course called "The Medicine of Laughter" has
been offered for first year medical students since 2000. In the course, the
medical students read and discuss literature describing the physiologic and
psychological benefits of humor, and discuss how humor can play a
positive role in the doctor/patient relationship.
The students also shadow the Clown Docs at St.
Louis Children's Hospital to observe the effects of humor
in the hospital setting. Students that choose to do so may
participate in a "super-selective", in which they develop
their own clown character.
Notes Professor Dana Abendschein, (right), who
teaches the course, "Our first goal is to not make students
clowns, but to allow them to learn how to access humor to
help themselves and their future patients."
For details on teaching of humor in medical school contact Dana
Abendschein, Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South
Euclid Box 8086, St. Louis, MO 63110, (314) 362-8925,
dabendsc@im.wustl.edu
Hospital Clown Presenters
This list is not inclusive of every fine presenter. We offer it as a
starting reference if you are seeking persons with extensive hospital
clown experience, “best practice” knowledge and teaching experience.
Dana Abendschein p. 68.
Jane Abendschein p. 68.
Joe Barney (see below)
Joan Barrington p. 69.
The Bumper “T” Caring Clowns p. 60.
Loretta DeAngelus p. 62.
Carole Johnson p. 64.
Susie Kleinwachter p. 64.
Tammy Miller p. 82.
Debbie Nupp p. 66.
Mary O’Brien p. 63.
Curt Patty p. 68.
Diana Patty p. 68.
Desirae Payne p. 65.
Shobhana Schwebke p. 67.
Richard Snowberg p. 67.
Anita Thies p. 83.
Korey Thompson p. 61.
Janet Tucker p. 80.
Patty Wooten p. 9 & 76.
Joe Barney aka “Doc Geezer” (picture next page)
formerly clowned at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
Contact him at: 129 Nutmeg Rd., Bridgeport, CT 06610 (203) 365-0571
Email: bamboozele@aol.com
Website: www.centerringproductions.com
Hospital Clown Presenters